Two tourist robbers face court for Carnival Sunday thefts

Two men are expected to appear before a Port of Spain Magistrate tomorrow, charged with 23 counts of robbery against 14 Bahamian tourists and nine other persons who were passengers of a maxi taxi heading to an early morning Carnival cooler fete at Chaguaramas, on February 11.

Justin Hayes, 21, and Tafarra Brandon, 19, both of Carenage, were charged by Cpl Morgan Jones of the Carenage Police Station on Tuesday.

The charges follow investigations into the robbery of two maxi taxis in separate incidents, that were transporting passengers to a fete in Chaguaramas.

The maxi taxis were stopped along McKenzie Road, Point Cumana, Carenage, by a man holding an object resembling a firearm around 3 am on Carnival Sunday.

The victims told police five other suspects then came out of nearby bushes and announced a hold-up, stealing a range of items from the visitors and other passengers including a Rolex watch, other items of jewellery, cellular phones and local and foreign currencies.

None of the stolen items were recovered.

Investigations were spearheaded by Acting Senior Superintendent Ajith Persad of the Criminal Investigations Department and coordinated by Inspector Godfrey Vincent of the Western Division CID.

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